Stanford softball: Sorenson rising to the top in first year

At the end of the fall practice season, Stanford freshman Kylie Sorenson learned she won the job as starting shortstop. Sorenson got the news from Cardinal coach John Rittman.

"He told me we have an unbelievably athletic team," Sorenson said. "Up and down the lineup, we are all utility players. I'm going to give the position to the person who earns it. At the end of fall meeting, he told me, 'You've earned it, but it's also your spot to lose.' I was pretty excited. Everyone on the team is super talented. It was nice to hear him say it."

The 5-foot-5 Sorenson hasn't done much to lose the position. Starting all 28 games going into this weekend's Pac-12 series vs. Cal, Sorenson leads the Cardinal in batting with a .400 average. She has a team-leading 12 doubles, with two triples, a homer and 18 RBIs. Her slugging percentage of .653 and on-base percentage of .525 are also team bests. Sorenson has struck out just five times in 75 at-bats, while leading the team in walks with 20.

She's a tough out.

"Kylie is having a phenomenal year for us," Rittman said. "She's a great hitter. She can hit to all fields and with power. That makes her special as a freshman. You throw it outside, she can hit it to right field. You throw it inside, she can get around on it. She hits off-speed pitches, as well. She's a very talented freshman."

Advertisement

"It has been a good year," Sorenson said. "Bessie Noll, another freshman on the team, and I, talk about it a lot. We try to stay calm and relaxed. We don't let the big stage affect us. I know I don't have to impress, just have fun. Why waste time being nervous?"

Sorenson's doubles total is four more than that of Cassandra Roulund, second on the team in that category.

"In practice, coach always wants us to practice hitting the ball into the gaps," Sorenson said. "Working on that transforms over into a game. Everyone has potential to hit home runs, but I'm not the kind of player who has a super long swing. We always joke how I'm the shortest on the team. I'm one of those players who has to keep their swing quick and short."

Because freshman hurler Carley Hoover is out with an arm injury and junior reliever Nyree White is dealing with personal issues, Rittman has summoned Sorenson to the slab. In 23 innings, Sorenson is 2-0 with an ERA of 2.13.

"Sorenson has done a great job pitching," Rittman said. "She's such a competitor. She has an off-speed pitch and moves the ball around the strike zone. Her hitting hasn't slowed down once we started pitching her. Mentally, she's a tough kid."

"I didn't think I was going to be pitching," Sorenson said. "I pitched last year in high school. Kind of the same thing happened when our pitcher got injured."

Sorenson starred at West Ranch-Stevenson Ranch near Santa Clarita. She holds the school and Foothill League career records for hits, runs and extra-base hits. A two-time Foothill League player of the year, Sorenson had her share of offers, but chose Stanford.

"When I was in the second grade, I took a practice SAT test," Sorenson said. "I saw Stanford up on top and I asked my teacher what it meant? She said, 'It's one of the best schools in the country.' I said, I'm definitely going to go there. Once I started playing softball, I knew I wanted to play softball at Stanford."

Sorenson is part of a big, athletic family. Mollie, a year younger, will play softball at Penn State. Kylie has twin 8-year-old sisters -- Cami and Brielle -- who are very much into softball. Brother, Ryan, played water polo.

"We're all super athletic," Kylie said. "My dad played football, baseball, golf, everything. My mom played softball. It's very like family, family. The whole team knows how I'm so obsessed with my family."

Sorenson hopes the Cardinal can make a run at its first conference title since 2005, when it tied for first place in the then Pac-10.

"We always talk about how much adversity we've faced, with injuries and stuff," Sorenson said. "We're still coming out on top against pretty good teams. Madi Schreyer is having an unbelievable freshman year pitching. We have an awesome hitting team."